Tortilla machine



' 1,613,867 1927' R. 2. BALL TORTILLA MACHINE Filed March 2, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l R.'Z. BALL Jan. 11, 1927.

TORTILLA MACHINE 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3 0706/7/01. M); (Ed-4.x a? 7 P 2 AN W Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

STATES ROXVLAND Z. BALL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TORTILLA MACHINE.

Application filed March 2, 1921. Serial No. 449,088.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for formingtortillas, the principal object of my invention being to provide a relatively simple, strong; and durable machine that can be operated with an'expenditure of comparatively little power and which will be effective in rapidly forming disc-like bodies of ground corn dough, and which bodies are subsequently baked to form a food product known as tortillas.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tortilla forming machine of my improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine with parts thereof broken away and in section. I

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 41 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 4+4: of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section taken ap proximately on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, 10-10 designate the side walls of the machine base and 11 a bed plate that is positioned between the upper portions of said side walls. Project ing upwardly from the base structure thus formed and adjacent to one end of the bed plate is a frame that includes a pair of side plates 12, a transverse plate 13, and a top plate 1 1, which latter projectsa substantial distance away from the side plates 12 and over the bed plate 11. J ournaled for rotation in suitable'bearings in the walls 10 adjacent to the ends thereof are transversely disposed shafts 15 and 16, the same carrying drums 17 upon which operates an end less carrier, such as a belt 18. The overrunning portion of this belt passes directly across the top of plate 11. The bearings 19 for shaft 15 are mounted so that they may be adjusted toward or away from the bearings for-shaft 16, thereby enabling the belt 13 to tightened to the desired degree.

Positioned above the end of the base frame in which shaft 15 is journaled is a horizontally disposedplate 20 that serves as a support for the pieces of dough as the same are out by my improved machine before they are pressed into proper form for baking.

Formed "on the central portion of transverse plate 13 is a vertical bearing 21 in is a split ring or yoke 26, and depending from the lower portion of this ring or yoke is a connecting rod 27, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to tubular member 22.

Fixed on shaft 2l'near one end thereof is a worm wheel 28 that meshes with the worm 29, and the latter being fixed on a horizontally disposed shaft 30 that is journaled in suitable hearings on a bracket 31. This bracket is fixed to one of the plates 12, and fixed on one end of the shaft 30 is a belt driven wheel or pulley 32. Fixed on the end of shaft 24-adjacent to worm wheel 28 is a sprocket wheel 33. Fixed on the opposite end of shaft 2 1 is a disc 34, from the outer face of which projects a wrist pin 35, and

journaled thereupon is the upper end of a connecting rod 36, the lower end of which is journaled on a wrist pin 37 that projects outwardly from 'an arm 38, the lower end of which latter is loosely mounted 'on the corresponding end of shaft 16. Fixed on shaft 16 adjacent to this arm 38 is a ratchet wheel 39, and carried by arm 38'is a pawl 40, the point of which engages the teeth of said ratchet wheel.

Depending from the end of plate 1 1 is a tubular dischar 'e spout 41, and clamped on the lower end thereof is the inner end of a horizontally disposed bracket 412. Journaled in a bearing that is forined'onthis bracket intermediate its ends is a short vertically disposed shaft 43, the upper end of which carries a beveled pinion l4, and the lower wheel 45, and the upper por Lit) Sill

tion of the lattu' beingprovided with a horizontally disposed cutting member ll), z-uch as a wire. the same extending from the hub of the wheel to the rim thereof (see Fig. 6).

Journalcd in a suitable bearing on the outer portion of bracket 42 is a horizontally disposed shaft 17, the inner end of which carries a beveled pinion 48 that meshes with pinion All, and the outer end of said shaft carrying a sprocket wheel 19 upon which operates a sprocket chain 50, and the latter also operating around sprocket wheel 33.

lemovably positioned upon that portion of the plate ll fron'i which discharge spout 11 depends is a cylinder 51 having a remorable bottom plate 52, and the latter being provided with an opening 53 that is adapted to register with the passageway through discharge spout e111. (lvlinder 51 is maintaii'ied in. proper position upon plate H by the engagement of its lower edge with lugs or pi =jections. such as that project upwardly from said plate.

Fixed to the sides of plate l-l are the lower ends of vertically disposed rods 55, the upper ends of which are connected by a cross piece 56, and the latter being slightly offset or disposed to one side of the axis of cylinder 51 when the same is properly positioned upon plate 14.

Arranged for rotation in suitable bearings in cross piece 56 is a horizontally disposed shaft 57, the inner end of which carries a worm 58, and the outer end carrying ratchet wheel Loosely arranged on the end of shaft 57 outside the ratchet wheel is the lower end of an arm 60, and mounted thereupon is a pawl 61, the point of which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 59. Pivotally mounted on a wrist pin 2 that projects from arm (3t) is the upper end of a rod 63, the lower end of which is journaled onwrist pin 3:35.

ll'lOlllltQtl for rotation in hearings on cross piece 56 and disposed at right angles to :haft 5'? is a shaft Get, the same carrying aloosely mounted worm wheel 65 that m with worm 58. Fixed on this shaft 64 is a pinion (56 that meshes with the teeth of a vertically dispor'ed rack bar 67, the same beiiw arranged for sliding movement through a suitably located opening in cross piece and the lower end of said rack bar carr a plunger or pressure plate 68 that is anapced to slide vertically through cylinder bplined upon the outer portion of shaft (ti. so as to move lenglitwise thereupon and. to rotate therewith is the hub of a disc or hand wheel 69, and the inner face of said hub is notched or toothed so as to interengage hr clutch with the correspondingly notched end of the hub of worm wheel 65. By virtue of this construction the wheel 9 when moved. inwardly engages the hub of worm wheel 67 so that both parts rotate with shaft 6 1-, but when hand wheel 69 is pulled outwardly on shaft (9-1 away from the hub of the worm wheel and said hand wheel is manually rotated said shaft 6% will he rotated independently of said worm wheel, such operation being performed when it is desired to quickly retract or elevate rack bar 67 and pressure plate 68 carried thereby.

In the operation of my improved tortilla form' machine the cylinder 51, that is filled with dough or ground corn mixture from which the tortillas are formed, is placed on'plate 11 with its lower ei'lgt against the stop he 5i: and with the plate b in the bottom of said cylinder below the mass of dough or material therein. Plate 68 is positioned in the upper portion of the cylinder on top of the body of dough and hand wheel 59 is moved inwardl so that its huh interlocks with the hub of worm wheel (35. The machine is now driven by the application of a power driven belt to pulley $12. and the rotary motion thus imparted to shaft- 30 is transmitted to shaft 21 through worm 29 and worm wheel 28. As shaft 24E is rotated, eccentric 25, yoke 26 and connecting rod 2 impart reciprocating move ment to tubular member 22 and to the combined forming and pressing plate 23, so that the latter intern'iittently moves downwardly toward belt or endless carrier 18, and the parts being arranged so that when the pressure plate is at its lowermost limit of movement there is a slight space between its con vex under face and the top surface of the belt, and which space represents the thickness of the tortilla when properly formed.

The continuous rotary movement of shaft 1 1 is converted into intermittent rotary motion and so transmitted to shaft 16 through parts 3 1, 35, 3t), 3, 38 ll) and 39, and as a result the over-running portion of endless carrier 18 is intermittently moved over plate 11, the direction of movement being from the drum carried by shaft toward drum carried by shaft 16, consequently, the tortilla material that is placed on the carrier adjacent to plate will be carried in a position beneath the forming and pressing plate 23 where it will be engaged by the latter on its downward movement.

The rotary motion of shaft Ellwill be converted into intermittent rotary motion and so transmitted to shaft 57 through the parts 351, 63, 62, 61 and 59, and as said shaft 57 is thus intermittently rotated corresponding movement will be imparted to shaft 64 through worm 58 and worm wheel 65. As shaft 6% is thus intermittently ro tated intermittent downward movement will be imparted to rack bar 67 by pinion 66 that is carried by said. shaft (5 1, itbeing understood that worm wheel is locked to shaft 64- so as to rotate therewith by the hub of hand wheel (i9. As pressure plate 68 moves dow iwardly iii-cylinder 51 it will force the tortilla material downwardly through said cylinder and likewise downwardly through discharge spout 4-1, and that portion of the material that projects below the lower end of said spout will be cut oil by Wire 46 that is carried by wheel 45. This wheel is-rotated as a result of the driving engagement between pinions ist and 48 and the sprocket chain 50 that operates on sprocket wheels 33 and 41), said sprocket wheel being carried by shaft 24.

The machine attendant occupies a position at the side of the machine adjacent to plate or table 20, and as a lump or piece of tortilla forming material is cut oil by wire 16 it will drop downwardly between the spokes of wheel d5 and will be received by the hand or the attendant and transferred onto a sheet of oiled paper which the attendant has previously placed on top of plate or table 20. A second sheet of oiled paper is now placed on top of the piece of tortilla forming material, and said material, with the sheets of oiled paper on top and bottom thereof, is now placed on top of the endless carrier at a point between the table 20 and the combined forming and pressing plate 23. On the subsequent actuation of arm 38 can" ing pawl 40, ratchet Wheel 39 and drum that is carried by shaft 16 will be rotated, thereby moving the over-running portion of the conveyor 18 across the plate 11 and the tortilla with its sheets of oiled paper thereupon will be brought into position directly beneath the plate 23. At this point in the sequence of operations eccentric 25 will swing downward, with the result that plate 23 is moved downwardly into engagement with the sheet of oiled paper on top of the tortilla forming material, and the latter Will be pressed into disc-like form between the sheets of oiled paper, and by virtue of the convex contour otthe under side of plate 23 the top surface of the formed tortilla will be slightly concave.

During the time that the tortilla is thus being pressed to shape the carrier 17 remains stationary, and during the succeeding movement of the pressure plate the carrier will again be actuated to carry the formed tortilla from a position beneath the forming plate, and at the same time carrying a lump of dough or material into position beneath said forming plate. After the tortillas have thus been formed they are removed from the discharge end of the carrier and placed in suitable baking pans.

{hen plate 68 has reached the lower end of cylinder 51 and practically all of the tortilla forming dough or material has been toiced out of said cylinder the operator, in order to remove and refill the said cylinder or to place another filled cylinder in position on the table 14, engages hand wheel 69 and draws the same to the outer end of shaft Sa thereby disengaging tne clutch connection between the hub of said wheel and the hub of loosely mounted worm wheel 65, and by rapidly rotating the hand wheel corresponding rotary motion is imparted to shaft Gel and pinion (iii, thereby quickly elerating rack bar (57, and pressure plate (38. \Vhen the plate (58 has been elevated to a position above the top ot the empty cylinder the latter can be readily removed from table 14: and another tilled cylinder may be positioned on said table, or the empty cylinder may be relilled with tortilla torming material and replaced on said table. Obviously, to reset the parts for operation it would be necessary to move hand wheel'69 inwardly to re-engage the hub of worm wheel 65, and when the machine is again started the rack bar and pressure plate will be slowly moved downwardly to effect a discharge of the tortilla torn'iing material from the lower end of spout ell.

If desired, the under side of combined forming and pressing plate 23 may be perlectly fiat and a portion of plate 11 immediately below said pressure plate may be 7 made slightly convex, thereby forming a corresponding slight concavity in the under side of the formed tortilla, or, by forming the pressure plate 23 as shown and providing plate 11 with a slightly convex portion, both faces of the disc-like tortilla body ill be concaved.

A tortilla forming machine of my improved construction is comparatively simple, can be operated with relatively little power, and said machine is very effective in the rapid production of tortillas, and which latter, when formed, are uniform in size and shape.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved tortilla forming machine may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a tortilla forming machine, a support, a container removably positioned upon 7 said support, a spout depending "from said support independent ot the container, means adapted to move intermittently through the container and press the material therefrom through said spout, and rotary means disposed adjacent to the discharge end of said spout for cutting the material as it discharges troin said spout into pieces of uniform size. 1

2. In a tortilla machine, a top plate having a flat surface, a spout depending therefrom having a rotary cutter rotating in a horiz'zontal plane at the mouth of the spout,

a removable cylinder having an opening in the base ever the discharge spout, means to center said cylinder, a cross shaft supported above the cylinder, a pressure plate mounted in the cylinder having a rack bar connected thereto, gearing between the cross shaft and the raci; plate, a main shaft, means continuously rotating; the cutter from the main shaft and means operative by the main shaft connected to the cross shaft to intermittently operate said cross shaft to thereby interniittently operate the pressure plate to press material out of the cylinder through the spout ot' the cutter.

In a tortilla machine as claimed in claim 2, having in addition a ratchet Wheel carried by the cross shaft, a loose arin hav ing a pawl swivelling on said shaft, a disc on the main shaft and a rod connected from the disc to the loose arm to operate the pawl by the rotation of the disc.

4. In a tortilla lnaehine as claimed in claim 2, having in addition a bracket secured to the spout, a short vertical shaft niounted therein having a Wheel with a cutter at the 7 RGl VLAND Z. BALL. 

